Lock-ring positioner for bearings



Jan. 29, 1946: v. R. R. BEEZLEY LOCK-RING ,POSITIONER FOR BEARINGS FiledMay 26, 1945 I INVENTOR. f 556245;

Patented Jan. 29, 1946 1 UNITED 'YJSTATES- PATENT OFFICE?" LOCK-RINGPOSITIONER FOR BEARINGS Reginald R. Beezley, Memphis, Tenn. ApplicationMay 26, 1945, Serial No. 595,934

s olaims. (01.308-189) This invention relates to devices for temporarilyholding locking rings for ball bearings in place during the installationof drive shaft assemblies, as of automobiles, in their housings.

In certain types of automobilesthe' drive shaft which carrie thedifferential drive pulley is journalled in a pair of ball bearingsspaced apart adjacentthe pinion end of the shaft, the bearings beingseated in a housing and the inner hearing being held in its seat by alocking ring. In installation, the shaft with the two bearings securedthereon and a locking ring loosely interposed between the bearings, isplaced in the housing which has been counter-bored for the bearings.driven into place, and when placed are held by three screws which areengaged with the look ing ring and seat it against the inner bearing. Asthe shaft assembly and housing are constructed, the locking ring isinaccessible during sub- The two bearings are forced or lightly"stantially the entire installation and is usually so displaced that itis impossible to engage the holding screws with it.

In assembling the holding rings may be stationary relatively to theshaft, but after assembly becomes stationary relatively to the housingand any connection to the shaft is a drag thereon and objectionable.

Numerous makeshift devices have been used for stabilizing the ringduring assembly, paper sometimes being wrapped around the shaft, orstrips of wood placed between the outer bearing and the ring for thispurpose. All of these, however, introduce into the bearings foreignmatter, which, to say the least, does not promote proper functioning orlubrication in subsequent use of the assembly.

The objects of the present invention are:

To provide a temporary stabilizer or positioner for the locking ringwhich is in part destroyed, but in which the destroyed portions are of anature to be mixed with the lubricant in the housing and promote ratherthan retard lubrication;

To provide a simple and eflicient stabilizer between subsequentlyrelatively movable parts, which includes effaceable portions.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished, andthe method of their accomplishment, will readily be understood from thefollowing specification upon reference to the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Fi 1 is a sectional elevation of the drive shaft housing of anautomobile with the drive shaft and bearings secured in place therein,and my lock ring positioner as it appears before and after thecompletion of the installation and before turning movement of the shaft;i

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the'preferred form of my positioner; and 1Fig. 3 a corresponding end elevation.

Referring now to the drawing in which the various parts are indicated bynumerals:

H is a housing which has been counterbored to receive the outer races ofa pair of ball bearings I3 and I5, the inner races of these bearingsbeing mounted on a drive shaft IS in usual manner. 2| is a lock ringwhich on its inner face is relieved so that it will seat only againstthe outer race of the inner of the bearings l3 and on its outer face.21A is beveled for engagement with the tapered ends 23 of set screws 25,three of which are usually used to force the ring against the bearing [3and hold it against displacement Th ring stabilizer comprises a splitannular clam 21 which may be opened up and placed around the shaft l9between the outer bearing l5 and the locking ring 2|, and when so placedmay be securely clamped, as by a threaded end 29 and nut 3|. Rigidlyprojecting from this clamp are prongs 33, three of these prongs, spaceddegrees apart, preferably being used, which prongs have their outer ends33A deflected outward from the shaft and carry blocks 35 which engageagainst the locking ring 2| and hold it firmly against the outer race ofthe bearing I3. The blocks are fragile and are composed of a compressedlubricant, such as graphite mixed with lubricant oil, and are of natureto disintegrate when broken up and mixed with the lubricant usually usedin the housings. The deflection and length of the deflected portions aresuch that they lie radially inward and clear of the screws 25 in anyposition.

In making use of the device, the split clamp 21 is opened up and placedaround the shaft 19 between the outer bearing l5 and the lock ring 2| ofthe drive shaft assembly. The ring 21 is centered and seated against thehousing l3 and the stabilizer shifted along the shaft until the blocks33 engage firmly adjacent the ring and hold it against the bearing. Withthe ring thus held and the screws 25 retracted or entirely removed, theshaft I 9 is inserted through the housing and shifted to seat thebearings l3 and IS in their respective housing counter-bores, the

the screws 25 are run into place, their tapered ends 23 engaging thebeveled face 2IA of the ring and jamming the ring solidly against theouter race of the bearing l3 and that race solidly against the end ofthe housing counter-bore.

Should the screws happen to seat on the blocks 35 of the stabilizer,they crush the blocks and destroy them, but this cannot occur until thescrews are partially in place and in position to preventdislodgement ofthe rings If. this does not occur'the-first turning movements: thejshait shifts the blocks against the screws and efiecls the samedestruction. I

The clamp and prongs continue to turn there after with the shaft, butnot extending. into. the

path of the screws 25, introduce no obstruction to rotation. The crushedblocks rapidly disintegrate and blend with the other lubricant'rin thecasing:

said blocks being of compressed lubricating materials, destroyable underturning movement of said shaft relatively to said housing afterinstallation, 7

and mixable with the lubricants in said housing.

2. Means for stabilizing a normally loose bearing-holding ringof a shaftand bearing assembly during installation of said assembly in a housing,

which means includes a plurality of blocks disposed around said shaft,and meanssecured to andcarnied bynsaid shat,;,s upponting said blocksagainstjisaidrihgito position: said ring ag ains't said bearing duringsaid installation, aid blocks being formed of compressed lubricatingmaterials, basically graphite, and being destroyable under turningjmovementof said shaft relatively to said ring subsequent to saidinstallation.

3; Means for stabilizing a normally loose bearing-holding ring of ashaft and bearing assembly during installation of said assembly in ahousing,

REGINALD .R. BEEZLEY'L

